Perritt Records Fifth Three-Hit Game in Setback at James Madison

Ashton Perritt had three hits, scored a run and a stolen base, Tuesday night.

Liberty outfielder Ashton Perritt recorded his fifth three-hit game of the year, as the Flames fell to the James Madison Dukes,13-4, Tuesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Perritt collected three hits, scored a run, and stole a base for the second straight game, Tuesday night. In 26 starts this season, the outfielder has posted 14 multi-hit contests.

Liberty drops to 27-25 on the year, after losing four straight games. James Madison moves to 23-26, as the Dukes have won three consecutive contests.

After three scoreless innings, James Madison batted around and staked itself to an advantage with four runs in the home half of the fourth. Designated hitter Johnny Bladel opened the inning with a double and advanced to third base on a passed ball. After a walk to first baseman Ty McFarland, center fielder Colby Roberts singled to right field for a 1-0 Dukes' edge. Two batters later and with two men aboard, left fielder Tyler Gregory connected for his second home run of the year for a 4-0 edge.

James Madison extended its lead in the fifth. With one out, Roberts walked and scored on a two-out double by Gregory. Right fielder Cole McInturff and shortstop Tyler Duke followed with run-scoring singles for a 7-0 lead.

In the top of the sixth, Liberty plated its first three runs of the contest. Center fielder Ryan Cordell led off the inning with an infield single and stole second base. After moving to third base on a groundout by catcher Trey Wimmer, designated hitter Danny Grauer dumped a single into left-center field, scoring Cordell with the first tally of the frame.

Grauer then ended up on third base, when Dukes' third baseman Bradley Shaban threw wide of the second-base bag on a grounder by second baseman Bryan Aanderud. First baseman Alex Close followed by lifting a sacrifice fly to cut the hosts' advantage to 7-2. After left fielder Justin Sizemore walked, shortstop Dalton Britt produced a run with a single, trimming the James Madison lead to 7-3.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Dukes countered with two runs. With runners at second and third and two outs, pinch hitter Casey Goss' infield single to shortstop scored a run. On the hit, Britt's throw got away at first base, allowing another runner to come home to boost the hosts' advantage to 9-3.

The Flames plated a run in the seventh. Perritt led off the frame with single. Two batters later, Perritt stole second and scored on a single by Wimmer to make it, 9-4 Dukes.

Liberty attempted to once again cut into the James Madison lead in the top of the eighth. The Flames loaded the bases with one out, but Duke reliever Kevin Feehan struck out the next two Liberty batters to end the threat.

In the bottom of the frame, Goss hit an inside-the-park grand slam for the final tally of 13-4.

Liberty starter Adam Parks falls to 1-3 on the year. The first of six Flames to pitch in the contest, Parks pitched three-plus innings, allowing two runs on three hits. The right-hander struck out three and walked two batters.

James Madison starter J.T. Root moves to 2-0 on the season. The right-hander pitched five scoreless innings. The first of five Dukes to take the mound in the game, Root struck out four batters and walked two.

Liberty outhit James Madison, 11-10. Cordell collected two hits for the Flames.

Liberty will finish out its 2013 regular-season schedule at home with a three-game Big South series against the Radford Highlanders. The series opens Thursday at Liberty Baseball Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.